Starkissed. Part 19

The finality of the word stopped her. "What do you mean, gone?"

Drew shrugged. "He's left the guesthouse."

"Left? Why?"

"Let's go to the dining room, and I'l tell you what I know."

Several tables filled the area, all empty. With J'Qhir and Rohm'dh gone, Leith and Drew were the only guests. They chose a table by the open patio doors. Sunlight faded rapidly and stars began to twinkle in the dark lavender sky. They made their choices from the menu.

"Hykaisian paow steak." Drew's eyes widened. "I thought the Artilians were strict vegetarians."

"They are, but they cater to their guests."

"But paow steak is illegal."

"Artilia is neutral, remember." Neutrality meant a planet reaped the benefits, but wasn't obliged to obey all the rules.

Leith didn't recognize half the dishes so she chose Terran beef stew, bread, and iced tea.

"Tell me, Drew."

"I went to get J'Qhir and Rohm'dh. I thought all of us could escort you to dinner. The steward said they left earlier in the day. His exact words, 'It was requested they be moved'."

"Did the steward say where?"

"He didn't offer the information. I asked because I knew you'd want to know. He said he couldn't divulge the location. But, Leith, the way he worded it doesn't mean J'Qhir made the request."

"Rohm'dh wouldn't. J'Qhir is his superior. Who else?"

"You know a Zi s.h.i.+p arrived not long after we landed. It came from Arreis. They were still investigating the situation." Drew laughed. "Investigating is too strong a word. The Zi really don't know how to function among others. According to what I heard, they were hanging around hoping someone would come to them. Anyway, maybe someone from the s.h.i.+p made the request."

"Maybe," Leith conceded. "But J'Qhir, as the Warrior, answers to no one except the Council of Elders."

"Unless the s.h.i.+p received orders directly from the Council."

Leith nodded. "They want to isolate him, keep him from being influenced by off-worlders. And he would go along with it. Duty, obligation, responsibility..." Words of honor that turned to ashes in her mouth. J'Qhir placed them above all else and rightly so. Except that he now placed them above her as well.

"Many worlds do that, Leith. They keep contact with others to a minimum, to keep from diluting their own cultures. Even Artilia does it to a great extent. Not every culture wants theirs to become a melting pot like our own."

She understood the concept well enough, but now it hit her on a personal level. While dressing, she had decided to find a way to be alone with him, entice him to her suite, make love to him all night long in a real bed with soft sheets and pillows. Tomorrow, over a breakfast that did not consist of food they had gathered or killed themselves, they would discuss their future and make their decisions. No, it wasn't the proper courts.h.i.+p she had envisioned earlier in the day. But she had expected him to come to her without being prodded. When he didn't, seduction was the only way she knew to force him to choose. Hadn't she feared he would choose Zi and his position as Warrior over her all along?

By leaving, J'Qhir had made his choice. There was no future. He hadn't even said good-bye.

Leith's eyes burned. She stood. "I'm sorry, Drew. I-I don't feel well."

"I'l have your food sent up to you," Drew offered as she ran from the room. She reached the stairs as hot tears scalded her cheeks.

Drew knew her well enough not to come after her. If only J'Qhir had known her well enough to come to her!

In her suite, Leith changed into a warmer robe. She scrubbed her face free of cosmetics and tears. She propped herself in bed with a viewer and tried to reach Nura. As Chief Servitor of Security, Nura could find out to which guesthouse he had been moved. She was told again and again, "Servitor Nura is unavailable at this time."

When her food arrived, she uncovered the stew, but she wasn't really hungry. Instead, she found a channel showing Terran programming and watched an old vid from a century ago. The actors were long dead and the plot rehashed, but it kept her from thinking about what she had planned to do in this bed this night. She fell asleep before the vid was half over.

A beep on the viewer woke her the next morning. She punched the b.u.t.ton.

"Ready for breakfast?" Drew asked cheerfully.

She stared at him sleepily. "Is food all you can think about?"

"I'm starved."

"You're not starved, especially if you finished off that paow steak last night."

"I did. It was delicious, pink and b.l.o.o.d.y, just the way I like it."

Leith's stomach roiled and she covered her mouth.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"I'l come by and get you in ten minutes."

"I'l meet you downstairs, Drew. I wouldn't want you to waste away to nothing while waiting on me."

Drew laughed as his image disappeared.

Leith lay still for a while, letting her stomach calm. When she thought she could move without retching, she slowly got out of bed. As she pa.s.sed the food tray, she stopped to replace the cover. Lumps of meat and vegetables floated in a greasy broth. She rushed to the facilities and emptied her stomach in the waste receptacle.

The transition from Paradise to civilization wasn't agreeing with her. Maybe her system wasn't compatible with Artilia, although she'd never heard of other humans having problems. And she'd felt queasy on board the Starfire before ever reaching Artilia. Stress. Leaving Paradise, anxiety over her relations.h.i.+p with J'Qhir, the conference with them on interstellar display... Nerves.

Leith made another call to Nura and was once more told the Servitor was unavailable. She left a message that it was an emergency, for Servitor Nura to get in touch with her as soon as possible.

She dressed in a loose pale blue tunic and trousers and joined Drew downstairs. He had ordered a Terran breakfast she had often craved in the past two months-eggs, sausage and gravy, biscuits, and hash browns. This morning, Leith's stomach churned at the sight and smell of it. She ordered tea and plain toast.

"The conference is tomorrow evening," Drew said and drained the last of his coffee. "That leaves a day and a half for sightseeing. I'd like to visit the Penelaape Arcs. How does that sound to you?"

"I can't get in touch with Nura. I'm going to stay here and keep trying."

Leith didn't think the Artilians would appreciate her raiding all the guesthouses till she found J'Qhir. Certainly, J'Qhir wouldn't relish the attention. On the other hand, he knew exactly where she was. Surely, he could have found a moment to call her and explain. To say good-bye, at the very least. If he wanted to. Unless he just wanted to make a clean break of it. d.a.m.n, all she needed was a few moments with him, just to find out. Guessing what was going through his Zi mind was useless.

A server brought her tea and toast.

"You're not eating much, Leith. Are you ill?"

"I don't know. I don't think Artilia is agreeing with me." No need to mention she'd had the same symptoms aboard the Starfire. Maybe she had picked up a virus on Paradise. As soon as the media conference was over, she'd see a doctor.

"You look pale. Do you want me to stay with you while you wait for Nura to call?"

"No thanks, Drew. I'd rather be alone. You do your sight-seeing."

"If you're sure. If you need anything, just call. I'l be carrying a beeper with me." Drew wiped his mouth with a napkin, then stood. "Just think, Leith, people pay small fortunes to visit Artilia and the Arcs, and we're getting the royal treatment for free."

She told him to enjoy himself, then sat for a while sipping tea and nibbling toast. The bland food settled her stomach, and she felt better. She only hoped she could hold out until after the conference.

Penelaape Arcs of myriad sizes s.h.i.+mmered in bright metallic hues as Leith walked among them. The graceful arches sensed her unrest and responded. She drew a deep breath and felt some of her fear and trepidation ease. The Arcs of Artilia were known galaxy-wide for their calming effects. Beings traveled from far away to spend time in the public parks.

Leith chose a cl.u.s.ter of small Arcs, in pale shades of pinks and blues and dusky lavender. Their glossy surfaces trembled as she drew near. Leith thought her alien emotions might traumatize them, but she had been a.s.sured the Arcs in this private garden would be all right.

She knelt in the sandy soil lightly covered with silvery-green moss and touched each Arc in turn.

"Thank you," she whispered, "for allowing me here."

One Arc shuddered violently. Not the tallest, largest, nor brightest, but the "leader" of this little group. She could leave and return in an hour or a day, and find the Arcs in this garden completely rearranged. She might find another small cl.u.s.ter, which might or might not include any of these and this leader might not be a leader at all.

Even the Artilians didn't know how the Arcs functioned, what they were made of, or how group leaders were chosen. No one knew how or why the Arcs moved from one position to another. They did so when completely un.o.bserved. One park had been kept under surveillance for decades, with hidden recording equipment. None of the Arcs moved until the equipment malfunctioned, and the Arcs rearranged themselves once more. The Artilians then decreed no park should ever be secretly watched again.

"Leith!"

The Arcs, recognizing the voice, s.h.i.+vered pleasantly. Leith stood, brushed dry sand from her ankle-length tunic, and straightened to greet her friend. Nura hadn't changed since their days at the university. If anything she was more beautiful. Long silky white hair flowed freely around her shoulders, and her eyes were clear, celestial blue. Her skin was as translucent as starlight. The tunic she wore was white and sparkled in the pale Artilian sunlight.

"Leith, I'm so glad you thought to call me. I would have been heart-broken if you hadn't contacted me."

"Nura, it's good to see you." Leith threw her arms around her friend. "I've been trying to reach you for two days. Yesterday, I finally told them it was an emergency. I know you're busy, but I wanted to see you before the conference." Leith had anxiously waited for Nura to return her call, but it came only a standard hour before. Since it was only a few standard hours until the conference, Leith saw no reason to try to track down J'Qhir now. She would see him then.

"I'm so sorry, Leith. I was away from Katasa~ri on business. And frankly, Artilians don't consider off-worlder emergencies real emergencies. Artilians feel that most others, especially humans, are much too emotional and tend to 'make mountains out of molehills'." Nura laughed at the Terran phrase. "It feels good to use your idioms again and actually have someone know what I'm talking about."

The Arcs around them s.h.i.+mmered. "They like you, Leith."

"I like them, too. I've thanked them for allowing me here. Please let them know how grateful I am."

Nura's eyes twinkled. "They know. Sometimes I think they hold the knowledge of the universe. Come, Leith, let's walk."

Leith fell into step beside her friend, and Nura hooked her arm around Leith's.

"You've had quite an adventure," Nura observed.

"More than enough for one lifetime." Leith related an abbreviated version of the story.

"Stranded on a planet with a Zi!" Nura led them to a bench beneath a huge Arc.

"Well, you were always pestering me to get out and see more of the universe."

"Artilians do not pester," Nura denied sternly, then laughed. "I miss those days at the university. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I must be grateful for the year I was allowed. Now, tell me about your Zi."

Your Zi... Suddenly, Leith blinked back tears that burned to escape. "He- He isn't my Zi. We were both in the wrong place at the wrong time-"

"Leith, my friend. You cannot hide your feelings from me. You know that. Now, tell me about your Zi."

"His name is J'Qhir and he is the Warrior, chosen by his people to serve and protect. And..." Leith blinked back more tears. "I love him."

The words sounded strange when spoken aloud to someone else.

"How does J'Qhir feel about you?"

"I don't know!" she cried out. The large Arc over them shuddered. "I'm sorry. I'm distressing the Arcs. Should we go somewhere else? I don't want to hurt them."

"You won't. They thrive on distress. They absorb it and in doing so give you relief. You can't hurt them, Leith. Don't worry so."

Leith shook her head. "There were so many people-the media, tourists, gawkers."

"I wish you had called ahead from the s.h.i.+p and asked for me. A distress call from a crippled s.h.i.+p is different. They would have had to let me know. I could have made arrangements for your arrival to be more private."

"I wish I'd thought of it. I didn't realize that most of the messages I deployed had been intercepted and half the galaxy would be waiting for us."

"The Officials had no choice but to let them in. Media rights, you know. It's in the Treaty, but Artilia never realized what that could mean. Nothing like this has ever happened on Artilia before."

"When Drew told me it was an Artilian s.h.i.+p that reached us and towed us in, I told him it would be a problem for your planet and your people wouldn't like it."

"They don't," Nura confirmed. "But I'm glad we'l be exposed to more off-worlders. We allow tourists to visit the Arcs, but under controlled circ.u.mstances. There is no way to completely control this situation. I think it will do us good."

Leith grinned. "Radical as ever. What does everyone else think?"

Nura shrugged. "Some agree, some don't. So no changes are made. As always. Now, you effectively managed to change the subject, but I'm changing it back. Finish telling me about J'Qhir."

"Nothing more to tell."

"Leith," she said sternly then sighed. "Oh, very well. Have it your own way."

Leith looked at her helplessly. "I don't know how he feels. What happened on Paradise seems to have nothing to do with reality. And the reality is he is going back to Zi and I am going back to Earth."

"Have you talked to him?" Nura asked.

"I haven't had a moment alone with him since Drew and the others arrived on Paradise. Because of Rohm'dh, I had to treat him distantly. I left it up to J'Qhir how he wanted to handle it in front of another Zi. He never said or did anything to indicate that we were anything other than cordial acquaintances."

"Do you realize he may have taken his cue from you? Perhaps he thought you wanted it that way."

"I thought about it, but I didn't have any other choice. We had never taken the time to explore 'what if'. What if we're rescued? What happens between us then? It had to be J'Qhir's move, if we acted like lovers. It wasn't my place to bring attention to something he might not want known at the time."

"I understand, but J'Qhir is Zi and may not."

Nura, as always, had a way of reaching the heart of the matter, and Leith knew her friend was right. J'Qhir wasn't human, and she shouldn't expect him to react as a human would. His entire thought process was so different than her own.

Still, she stubbornly clung to the notion that if he truly loved her, he would instinctively know what needed to be done. He had told her that her instincts were good. Weren't his a thousand times better? She refused to believe he didn't know he should come to her and tell her what he meant to do.

"Well, you'd think he would have taken a few moments to find out." Leith frowned. "He left the guesthouse before I knew about it. He never tried to get in touch with me. It was the reason I kept trying to reach you, to find out where he had been moved. It's too late now. Only a few hours until the conference."

"I could arrange for you two to be alone-"